Article retaining device



Dec. 6, 1966 M. R. KAUFFMAN 3,289,854

ARTICLE RETAINING DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1963 INVENTOR.

MELV\N R. KAUF'F'MAN BY 6% WTTORNEV United States Patent C) 3,289,854 ARTICLE RETA NING DEVICE Melvin R. Kalil-Imam, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 326,606 3 Claims. (1. 211-41) This invention relates generally to automatic dishwashers and, more particularly, to a device for preventing damage of lightweight articles in an automatic dishwasher.

In order to achieve effective cleansing of dishes in an automatic dishwasher, it is necessary to generate vigorous wash action of the fluids within the wash chamber. Vigorous wash action is usually accomplished by means of a high velocity spray impinged upon the articles being washed. When lightweight articles such as, for example, small plastic drinking vessels or dishes and glass stem ware, are subjected to high Velocity spray action, they may become dislodged from their supporting rack. In the case of plastic items, dislodging may result in the item being oriented in such a manner that it will trap wash fluids thereby preventing drying. In the case of glass stern ware, the additional problem of breakage may arise if the spray action causes the stern Ware to collide with other items in the wash chamber. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a means to secure light articles against dislodgement from their supporting rack when subjected to vigorous Wash action.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for use with a dishwasher supporting rack to secure lightweight articles from dislodgement due to vigorous wash action within the dishwasher.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, for a dishwasher, an improved dish supporting rack having means associated therewith to secure lightweight articles against dislodgement.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided for use in an automatic dishwasher having a dish supporting rack with upwardly projecting elements, an article securing device. The device includes a first portion having means to secure the device to one of the upwardly projecting elements and a second portion extending from the first portion and adapted to secure an article between the second portion and the upwardly projecting element.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an automatic dishwasher partially cut away to show details of the rack structure therein;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the present invention; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a rack structure in corporating the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG- URE 1, there is shown an automatic dishwasher having a wash chamber 11, access to which is obtained by means of a front opening door 12. The bottom wall 13 of the wash chamber 11 forms a sump 14 for the collection of wash fluids. Supported by the bottom wall 13 at the center of the sump 14 is a motor-pump assembly 15. The motor-pump assembly 15 includes a motor 16 and a pump 17. When the motor 16 rotates in one direction, pump 17 draws water from sump 14 and pumps it up into a reaction spray arm 18 and spray tube 19. As

pump 17 provides washing fluid under pressure to spray arm 18 and to spray tube 19, these two elements rotate and generate a wash or rinse action within chamber 11.

Positioned within wash chamber 11 are dish supporting racks 20 and 21. Dish supporting rack 20 is provided with a plurality of rollers 22 which allow rack 20 to be withdrawn, at least partially, from wash chamber 11 to facilitate the loading of dishes onto rack 20. Rack 21 is provided with a roller mechanism 23 to similarly allow rack 21 to be partially withdrawn from chamber 11 to facilitate the loading of dishes onto rack 21.

It should be recognized that the structure thus far described is essentially conventional in form and does not comprise a critical part of the invention. Accordingly, many of the aforementioned elements may be modified to a great extent without affecting the present invention.

As mentioned above, it is necessary to generate vigorous wash action within chamber 11 in order to achieve effective cleansing of the articles supported by racks 20 and 21. As a result, light articles such as small plastic drinking vessels and glass stem ware may become dislodged from the dish supporting racks, creating either a drying problem or a breakage problem. The present invention is directed primarily toward overcoming this problem.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an article retaining device 24 which is adapted for use with dish supporting racks 20 and 21. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the article retaining device 24 comprises a base 25 and a retainer 26. As best shown in FIGURE 3, rack 21 is provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting elements 27 which are intended to serve, each by itself, to position dish ware in a manner to facilitate washing thereof. The base 25 of article retaining device 24 is provided with an opening therethrough adapted to receive one of the upwardly projecting elements 27. The retainer 26 extends from base 25 in a direction generally parallel to element 27 andis configurated such that it has a portion bent toward, and which may actually engage, the upwardly projecting element 27. The retainer 26 is preferably formed of a resilient material such that when a glass or other article is positioned between the retainer 26 and the element 27, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the retainer 26 will gently but firmly press against the glass to thereby retain it against dislodgement by the vigorous spray action generated by arm 18 or tube 19.

In the preferred form of the present invention the article retaining device 24 is designed to be removable from the upwardly projecting elements 27; however, it is well within the scope and spirit of the present invention to have retaining device 24 attached to the element 27. This could be done by welding or brazing the article retaining device 24 to element 27 or by forming base 25 integral with element 27. Also in the preferred form of the present invention, article retaining device 24 is made of metal and is covered with a suitable coating to prevent scratching or other destruction of the articles being retained thereby, It would, of course, be possible to construct the device 24 from a plastic material which would provide both the necessary resiliency of retainer 26 and the non-scratching characteristics.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of construction of the example illustrated, and it is contemplated that various and other modifications or applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an automatic dishwasher having a dish supporting rack with at least one upwardly projecting element, an article retaining device comprising:

(a) a base having an opening therethrough receiving said upwardly projecting element,

(b) retainer means extending from said base in a direction generally parallel to the axis of said opening,

() said retainer means being adapted to gently bear against said upwardly projecting element to retain an article therebetween.

2. In an automatic dishwasher having a dish supporting rack with at least one upwardly projecting element, an article retaining device comprising:

(a) a base having an opening therethrough receiving said upwardly projecting element,

(b) retainer means extending from said base in a direction generally parallel to the axis of said opening,

(c) said retainer means having a portion normally at least partially intersecting the axis of said opening whereby said portion contacts said upwardly projecting element,

((1) said retainer means and said upwardly projecting element cooperating to secure an article to be washed there'between.

3. In an automatic dishwasher having a dish supporting rack With at least one upwardly projecting element, an article retaining device comprising:

(a) a base portion having an opening therethrough carried by said upwardly projecting element,

(b) retainer means extending from said base portion in a direction generally parallel to the axis of said opening,

(c) said retainer means being adapted to gently bear against said upwardly projecting element to secure an article to be washed therebetween.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1894 Ward 248-451 9/1916 Moore 2411 12/1918 Upton 2411 8/1919 Wahl 2411 2/1921 Wertman 248-3165 X 2/1922 Hoifman 14.9

9/1950 Sereno 2481 4/1951 Hooks 24279 12/1958 Watral 211-41 11/ 1959 Jorgensen 248- 5/1960 Miguez 21141 FOREIGN PATENTS 4/ 1935 Germany.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER HAVING A DISH SUPPORTING RACK WITH AT LEAST ONE UPWARDLY PROJECTING ELEMENT, AN ARTICLE RETAINING DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A BASE HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH RECEIVING SAID UPWARDLY PROJECTING ELEMENT, (B) RETAINER MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID BASE IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID OPENING, (C) SAID RETAINER MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO GENTLY BEAR AGAINST SAID UPWARDLY PROJECTING ELEMENT TO RETAIN AN ARTICLE THEREBETWEEN. 